The barrister asked: "When you first joined was there anything about his behaviour towards young women which was worrying?"

"Not at all," said the actress. "No, never."

Miss Blackwell said: "Over the years have you have seen him in the company of young actor members?"

Ms Kirkbride said: "He has obviously been in the company of younger cast members on a work basis.

"We have had several young actresses play the part of our daughter.

"He has never been anything other than helpful and supportive.

"There was never a hint or suggestion of anything else in all the years that I have known him."

She said her acting career had started in repertory theatre at the age of 16 and her original contract on Coronation Street was "for three lines".

But she added that she became a main character "quite quickly".

Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC asked Ms Kirkbride just one question. She said: "In 1965 you would have been about nine."

"That's about right," said the actress.

After about five minutes of giving evidence, Ms Kirkbride left the witness box.

She briefly glanced towards the dock before she left the courtroom and smiled at Roache.

He smiled back and waved at her.

Roache's accusers have told the jury they were assaulted by the actor either while at Granada Studios, in his Rolls-Royce car or at properties he owned.

Roache, who faced five hours of questioning in the witness box yesterday repeatedly denied even knowing any of his alleged victims.

He admitted being repeatedly unfaithful to his first wife after their marriage hit the rocks but he vehemently denied any interest in young girls, telling the jury none of the alleged assaults happened.

And he told the jury that, while he enjoyed the company of women, it was not in his "nature" to force himself on anyone.

Fellow cast member Chris Gascoyne, 45, was next to be called to the witness box.

He identified himself as the actor who plays Ken Barlow's son, Peter Barlow, after joining the show in 2000.

"How would you describe the length of time in Mr Roache's company?" Miss Blackwell asked him.

"It's been a joy to be with Bill," he replied.

"Over the last 13 years did you spend a lot of time with him within Granada or outside socially?" Miss Blackwell asked.